From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Apr 13: A delegation of State Congress leaders has submitted a memorandum to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot demanding that Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa must be dismissed from Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s BJP government and a case of murder must be registered and immediately arrested over the suicide of a Belagavi based contractor directly accusing the Cabinet Minister of demanding 40% commission in the government contracts.

The delegation, which comprised KPCC President DK Shivakumar and Congress Opposition leaders Siddaramaiah and BK Hariprasad in the Assembly and Council respectively and other senior party leaders, called on the Governor in Raj Bhavan in the morning and submitted the memorandum pointing out that the contractor Santhosh K Patil of Belagavi district and National Secretary of Hindu Vahini, had left a suicide note before committing suicide at the Shambhavi Hotel in Udupi on April 12, the day the Chief Minister was touring Udupi and Mangalore districts.

The contractor had also sent a message through social media stating that Minister K S Eshwarappa "is directly responsible for his death and for which he should be punished. Further, he had also appealed to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister and other senior BJP leaders to help his wife and child.’’

The memorandum has attached a copy of the said WhatsApp message by the contractor before ending his life.

As per the said WhatsApp message and the letter dated 11-3-2022 written by him to Hon’ble Prime Minister and to the Minister of MoRD of Union Government, the contractor had claimed that the "main cause for his extreme step of committing suicide was that he had carried out 108 government Contract works worth more than Rs 4 crore on or before 12-02-2021 in Belagavi district on the oral instruction of Eshwarappa, Minister for RDPR even without work orders from the concerned authorities. After completion of the said works he neither got any work orders nor payment for the said works from the concerned authorities.’’

The memorandum pointed out that whenever he approached the Minister and concerned officials for the payment and for work orders they were insisting for the commission stating that commission has to be paid first then only work order and payment will be made by them.

“To carry out the said 108 works, he (contractor) had raised loans from the private money lenders on exorbitant interest rate thinking that once the works are completed payment will be made by the concerned authorities as assured by Eshwarappa. But even after completion of the said works and of several requests from him neither the Minister nor the Officials had responded for his genuine request,’’ the memorandum said.

Having no other alternative, the memorandum mentioned that the contractor had written the letters on 11-3-2022 to Hon’ble Prime Minister and also to Hon’ble Minister for Rural Development of Government of India, Giriraj Singh narrating the pathetic conditions of him and requested to direct the Karnataka State RDPR Minister or to the Principle Secretary, RDPR, Government of Karnataka to release payment and to issue work orders immediately, otherwise he will commit suicide.

“A copy of the said letter of 11-3-2022 is herewith enclosed for your kind consideration. Apart from this letter he had approached BJP National Leaders Sri. Arun Singh and Sri B.L. Santosh to help him in this regard. As per the media reports that they had promised that they are going to help him. This has been briefed by him to the media. Which has been published widely by the English Daily, The Times of India. The clippings of the said Times of India is herewith enclosed for your kind consideration,’’ the memorandum said.

“In spite of the letters dated 11-3-2022 by the contractor to the Hon’ble Prime Minister and MoRD Minister and the promises of the BJP Leaders no payments were made to him. Consequently he was not in a position to repay the money and interest to the money lenders even though there were many demands from the money lenders. It appears due to lot of pressures in this regard he and his friends gone to Udupi and stayed in a Shambhavi Hotel, where he has committed suicide after sending a Whatsapp message about his suicide. In the message, he categorically stated that for his tragic death, KS. Eshwarappa mainly responsible and he must be punished. The said Whatsapp message is nothing but a death note of a deceased as per the provisions of law,’’ the memorandum said.

The Congress leaders pointed out that “As per the said death note there was a persistent and unabated harassment and acts of cruelty from Mr KS Eshwarappa and his associates which amounts to abetment of suicide.

The life of a person is a precious one that is why under Article-21 of the Constitution of India the right to life and liberty has been enshrined to prevent encroachment of personal liberty at any manner and his repository of all human rights essential for a person. Article-21 is a Constitutional command to state to preserve the basic human rights of every person; which has been violated by Mr KS Eshwarappa in the case of deceased Mr Santosh K Patil.’’

“As a Minister Mr KS Eshwarappa had taken Oath from your esteemed office stating that he will do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the Law without fear or favour, affection or ill will. Contrary to the said Oath Mr KS Eshwrappa and his allies have harassed the deceased for commission inhumanly and made him to commit suicide,’’ the memorandum said.

Taking potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for claiming that, “I am ‘Chowkidar’ to safeguard the interest of country and ‘Na Khaunga, Na Khane Dunga’ (I will not eat and I will not allow others to eat bribe) and the concerned Union Minister and BJP National Leaders have failed to give relief to the deceased person nor they have initiated any action to prevent the corruption in Karnataka,’’ the memorandum said pointing out that the incident ``is a tip of ice berg in regard to corruption in Karnataka.’’

An innocent person who had blindly believed Mr KS Eshwarappa and his allies and carried out more than 108 works estimated to Rs 4 crore without work orders from the authorities and he became victim of vicious circumstances. Mr KS Eshwarappa and his allies are mainly responsible for the suicide of Mr. Santosh K Patil. Which is nothing but an offence punishable as per the provisions of Sec-306 of IPC and also under the provisions of Sec-13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act for demanding commission from the deceased for the payment of said works,’’ the Congress leaders said.